Search form

“Fleurisanne” design and VC ?

April 13, 15 14:22

The 260th Anniversary has presented a new special engraving design, named “Fleurisanne”.

Historically, J-M VACHERON should have previously chosen this special design for his first pocket watches and then, I suppose that was one reason for VC to re-introduce this design into the 260th Anniversary collection.

Alexandre, if available, could you please post photos of J-M VACHERON’s 1755 pocket watch(es) and possibly some other vintage watches (pocket or wrist models) with this “Fleurisanne” engraving design.

After having seen again some pieces of the new collection in the Parisian VC Boutique, (a Warm thanks to the Team) I was very impressed by the Quality of the engraving with so much relief on each part. It should require a very highly cautious attention to not break the rigidity of mechanism.

As this design is not usually offered in current collections, it should mean that VC engravers had to train them for a long time to perform so artistically in these new collection models.

Please, could you share more information about the process followed (few years of practice???).

How is chosen the place for each "fleur" (flower)? By the Designer according to technical constraints?

My great grandfather had a Vacheron - made before Constantin became his partner. My great grandfather was rather wealthy but, when he came to Canada, he discovered that the lawyer to whom he'd sent his money had absconded with the funds and he had to sell many of the items he had with him, among other things, his beloved Vacheron.

That's one of the reasons I bought a VC.

Just as an aside: my grandfather told me he would help me pay tuition at university and that I could study anything but law.

Liger to answer your question on the training of the engravers, they first need to learn engraving which is about 4 years then learn to engrave watch movements. There is no specific apprenticeship period as it will depend on the engraver's talent and dexterity.

There is no specific training for each new decor. However, when a new pattern is created each engraver will try out on some test pieces first to test his/her method and better understand the complexities.

The placing of the motifs is purely aethetical and decided upon between the designer and the engraver at the very start of the project.